Switzerland boosted their chances of reaching the World Cup knockout stage with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, while South Africa kept their qualification hopes alive after earning a crucial draw against the Czech Republic on Thursday.
After a disappointing start to their Group B campaign, the Swiss responded in style at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, producing a dominant display that moved them to the top of the standings.
Johan Manzambi starred with two goals, while Ruben Vargas and Granit Xhaka also found the net as Switzerland secured their first win of the tournament.
The result leaves the team on four points and firmly in contention for a place in the last 32.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the defeat was a major setback.
The side, which booked its World Cup place after a surprise playoff victory over Italy, now faces an uphill battle to progress after collecting just one point from its opening two matches.
In Group A, South Africa recovered from their opening-round defeat to Mexico by holding the Czech Republic to a 1-1 draw in Atlanta.
The Czechs took the lead through Michal Sadilek, but South Africa fought back and earned a valuable point when Teboho Mokoena converted a late penalty.
The result keeps both teams mathematically alive in the race for qualification, although victory in their final group-stage matches may be required to secure a place in the knockout phase.
South Africa and the Czech Republic now sit on one point each, trailing group leaders Mexico and South Korea.
Elsewhere, attention turned to the upcoming clash between Mexico and South Korea, a match that could prove decisive in determining the Group A standings.
Mexico entered the contest with an opportunity to secure top spot and become the first team to guarantee qualification for the next round.
Away from the field, Ivory Coast received a boost ahead of their upcoming match against Germany after forward Elye Wahi was cleared to travel to Canada.
The striker had initially faced uncertainty over his entry permit following additional checks by Canadian authorities.
However, a source close to the player confirmed that approval was eventually granted, allowing him to join the squad for Saturday`s fixture.
With the group stage gathering momentum, Switzerland`s convincing win and South Africa`s resilient draw added further intrigue to an increasingly competitive World Cup.
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